Skibt-suppobtes



s ra4 an JOHN MCNEVEN, OF'BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SKIRT-SUPPORTER.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MCNEVEN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ladies Skirt-Supporter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a view of the supporter with the waist-band and strings for attaching it to the person. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same showing the manner of applying it to the body for supporting the skirts or under-clothing. Fig. 3, is a perspective vie-w of the supporter when used in connection with a corset, showing also the application of an abdominal supporter to the skirt supporter.

My invention consists in a certain novel form and arrangement of short bows with a. semi-circular bow of cane, whalebone, metal or other material in which stiffness, flexibility and elasticity are suitably combined, covered with a suitable material and furnished with a waistband and strings the whole when applied to the body of the person in a novel manner, constituting a supporter by which the skirts can be supported in such a manner as to relieve the waist and hips of unnecessary pressure, and bring the entire weight of the skirts upon the buttock, while at the same time it serves the purpose of a bustle which may be made adjustable to or from the body for giving either a gentle or abrupt curve to the dress below the waist, for varying the height of the dress to suit long or short waisted dresses, for preserving a proper form to the dress with the waist thereof either close to the body or perfectly loose, and for setting out the waist of the dress away from the body at every side so that the body may not be closely confined by several thicknesses of material, and lastly so the lady may prevent her dress and under-dresses from flying up in front or dragging behind.

To enable others familiar with this subject to understand the construction and use of my improved supporter I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A, is a reed, whalebone, or any other suitable material which is covered and sewn between a double piece of cotton B, or other fabric, which may be, when doubled, six or eight inches wide, orof any width according to the fancy of the wearer. lIhe length of the whalebone A, is sufficient to pass twothirds, or entirely around the body. rIhe ends of the cotton strips B, are then tapered off as shown by the drawings Fig. 1, so as to fit nicely over the hips. The two bottom edges of the strip B, are then sewn together, leaving stitched spaces for a number of strips C, of whalebone, which when inserted give a circularity, and, at the same time, a

stiffness to the whalebone A, at the same l time the whalebones C, are all strained in such a manner by their insertion that they tend to one common center, so that when the supporter is applied properly to the body these bows are bent so as to give a conveXity to the outer surface which prevents the weight of the skirts, upon the hoop or reed A from pressing too hard upon the points of support, viz; the buttock, by giving elasticity to the parts at the same time possessing sufficient stiffness to sustain the skirts in a comfortable and proper position.

Gr, are the principal straps of broad tape, with a buckle for readily adjusting the supporter to the waist, around which this strap .passes for securing the hoop A, in place and for keeping the supporter securely attached to the body. The lower part of the supporter has two straps J, QI, which are merely for the purpose of keeping the short whalebones in place so as to receive the weight of the skirts and distribute it equally when they press upon the body, this point of pressure being indicated by a, in Figs. 2 and 3, being a part of the body which will sustain enormous pressure without any inconvenience or injurious effects. This dress supporter is placed on the body by securing the straps in front, as described; and the skirts secured 'around the waist in the usual manner, so as to hang gracefully over the supporter and be supported by it without bringing any pressure upon either' the waist or the shoulder, as is too frequently the case where supporters with shoulder straps are used, or where they are strapped around the waist in the shape of a bustle.

Fig. 3, represents a corset which may be used in connection with the dress supporter by stitching the two eXtreme ends together, and when the two are combined thus, an abdominal supporter may be advantageously applied without in any way affecting the principle of my invention.

I d not laii broadly to be the first in- Venter of a dress supporter having a bustlelike form and made up of Whalebone strips so as. to possess lightness, and, at the same 5 time, relieve the Waist and hips of unnecessary ressure and give a graceful curve to the ress below the hips for such are in common use, but

What I claim as my invention and de- 10 sire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The Within described dress supporter consstin of a hoop A, and stifeners C,ybranch= ing o from said hoop A, the waistband Gr and tapes J, J, when the same are arranged and combined and applied to the body Sub- 15 stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein described.

J OHN MCNEVEN.

Witnesses:

C. M. HUGHES, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

